Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-08

His life was hazarded almost mo-
mentarily, and one of his most formi-
dable foes was a woman, the wife
OF Captain Cummings, who commanded
the Martha Washington boat that Kissane
and his fellow COnspiratOrs burned on the
Mississippi. The Captain owned an
interest in the boat, and the efforts of
Burton to prevent the payment of
what he knew to be fraudulent
insurance claims greatly Infatuated the
woman, who was of most desperate
character. Mr.. Burton, in his own writ
ing, tells of his first encounter with her
IN the following manner: "AU other
events failed to win NE over. They
Che conspiratOrS) invited me to Cum
mings' room at the Walnut street house.
Cincinnati, probably to make 8 final aud
more liberal proposal. | went, and Cum
mings commenced entreating me to stand
by him, with the assurance
that everything should be right.
When Mrs. Cummings stepped INTO the
room her appearance attracted my atten-
ton. She was a dashing woman with a
compact figure, handsome face, black
hair and Jet eyes that flashed like fire.
she said not word, but
commenced pacing up and down
the room with q nervous step, occasion
ally glancing at me with strange vim
dIcatVe expression. She reminded me of
a ugress walking up and down in q cage.
| watched closely what she would saw or
do, when she remarked In q short, sharp
voice: Il can hit a quarter of dollar
across this room every time
circumstance which | am about
to relate induced me to believe
she might whip out piston and shoot
me on the spot. | thought in view of
the case that discretion was the better
part of valor, and not desiring to furnish
mark for the pistol practice of al infuri-
ated woman [ hastily excused myself on
the plea of another engagement. The
circumstance TO which | auude
and from which l had previously gained
some idea Of Mrs. Cummings character.
is as follows. She was sister of the
Chapins, residing in Cincinnati, when she
became acquainted with and formed an
attachment for Cummings, who
promised to marry her. This
was some time before the Mexican war.
Cummings, however, did not see tit to
keep his word, and during the war went
to Nj Xico with Rufus and Adam Chaplin
and kimbaIl, where they kept gambling
shop Oh the Rio Grande They were get
ting along in flOurishing way when they
were startled by her strange and
wholly unexpected arrival. 1t seems
that Mrs, Cummings (then Miss Chaplin
feeling her dignity wounded by what she
supposed to be the desertion of the Cap
tain, determined to vindicate the wrongs
to her sex and compel the faithless lover
to fulfill his pledge. She set about dong
hfl in lone Co. IN
girl dressed herself in a complete suit of
mans clothes, armed herself with
a brace of pistols and started
distant journey. Lhe found her way
without detection to the Rio Grande. and
hunted up the lOCa ion selected 6Y Cum
mings and his companions. On the day
of her arrival, unsuspec'ing Cummings
was dealing faro in a shop when
in came his affiauced lady. She
drew out q pistol, pointed it at
Cummings head and addressed MIN
fercely: Captain Cummings, you can
either marry me or take this in your
head In the midst of the Captains
CONSERVATION he found breath enough to
say: why, Allie, my dear, is that you?'
He very sensibly determined to marry
her, and the ceremony was performed by
a priest the same day. 1t was the knowl-
edge OF this history that induced me to
take rather hasty leave of Captain Cum
mings' apartments.
Subsequently Mr.. Burton, in his pur-
suit Of the criminals, found Captain
Cummings in a gambling den in New Or
leans. On this occasion Mrs. Cummings,
who was with him, attacked Mr.. Burton
with gun and knife, but friend arrived
ct the scene in time 70 save his life.